Wu Geng Lufu: Son of King Zhou of Shang and the End of the Early Zhou Rebellion

Brief Introduction

Wu Geng Lufu (often abbreviated as Wu Geng) was the son of King Zhou of Shang (Di Xin), the last ruler of the Shang Dynasty. At the historical juncture of the transition between the Shang and Zhou regimes, he was both the last symbol of the Shang Dynasty and a central figure in the political turmoil of the early Zhou Dynasty. Sima Qian recorded his life and end in detail in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji). He is a key figure for understanding the early Zhou feudal system and the "Duke of Zhou's Eastern Expedition." Wu Geng's existence marked the brief continuation of Shang remnants under Zhou rule, while his failure announced the complete end of Shang political power.

Core Knowledge Points

1. Identity and Fiefdom: After King Wu of Zhou succeeded in defeating Zhou, to appease the Shang remnants, he adopted Jiang Shang's advice and enfeoffed Wu Geng at the old Shang capital, Chaoge, establishing the State of Wei. Wu Geng was allowed to continue sacrificing to Shang ancestors and ruling Shang remnants, reflecting the early Zhou political wisdom of "governing according to local customs."
2. Rebellion of the Three Guards: After King Wu died, his son King Cheng was young, and his uncle Duke Dan of Zhou acted as regent. Wu Geng was dissatisfied with Zhou rule and allied with King Wu's brothers, Guan Shu, Cai Shu, and Huo Shu (collectively known as the "Three Guards") to launch a rebellion. They spread rumors that the Duke of Zhou was harmful to King Cheng, attempting to restore the Shang Dynasty.
3. Final Outcome: The Duke of Zhou led an army on an eastern expedition, quelling the rebellion over three years. Wu Geng was defeated and killed, and the State of Wei was abolished. The Duke of Zhou subsequently relocated the Shang remnants and enfeoffed Wei Zi Qi, King Zhou's half-brother, at the State of Song to continue the Shang sacrifices, completely eliminating the threat of restoration.

Connection with the Records of the Grand Historian

Wu Geng's deeds are mainly recorded in the 《Annals of Zhou》 and 《Hereditary House of Guan and Cai》 of the Records of the Grand Historian. Sima Qian recorded this historical turning point with rigorous historical writing.
* In the 《Annals of Zhou》, Sima Qian recorded that after King Wu conquered Shang, he "enfeoffed King Zhou's son Lufu to worship the Shang ancestors," establishing Wu Geng's political status, reflecting the early Zhou appeasement policy toward Shang remnants.
* In the 《Hereditary House of Guan and Cai》, the causes of the rebellion are described in detail: "Guan Shu and Cai Shu suspected that the Duke of Zhou was acting against King Cheng, so they allied with Wu Geng to create chaos." This record reveals that the rebellion was not just Wu Geng's personal ambition, but also an externalization of internal power struggles within the Zhou royal house.
Through the rise and fall of Wu Geng, Sima Qian demonstrated the transition of the early Zhou regime from "peaceful transition" to "strong consolidation." Wu Geng's death, in the Records of the Grand Historian* narrative, is an important milestone in establishing the legitimacy of the Zhou Dynasty.

Historical Significance

Wu Geng Lufu's tragedy was not only the end of an individual's fate but also a microcosm of the alternation of two dynasties. His existence proved the appeasement policy adopted by early Zhou rulers toward Shang remnants and its limitations. The victory of the Duke of Zhou's Eastern Expedition established the foundation for the Zhou Dynasty's 800-year rule and promoted the profound transformation of Chinese civilization from "theocratic politics" to "patriarchal feudalism." For research on pre-Qin history, the records about Wu Geng in the Records of the Grand Historian are indispensable primary sources.